Bringing Back Fortress Fratton

Worried by the flat atmosphere, I suggested we all pledge what we could do together to bring back the noise we are famed for.

Thanks to all of you who gave your comments and suggestions. And my apologies for how long it has taken to follow them up. But what a lot has happened since then!

On the field, we've started scoring again. Six in our last three outings at Fratton. We've beaten Bolton, Derby and Plymouth and drawn with Chelsea, losing only to Man Utd at Old Trafford on a day when Ronaldo was at his irresistible best.

Off the field, we've signed Diarra, Defoe and Baros. And by all accounts the atmosphere is back at Fratton. I say 'by all accounts' because I've had my longest absence from Fratton for five years, missing three games on the bounce. I missed Derby as I was in Barcelona on my best mate's stag do and missed Chelsea due to being best man at his wedding last weekend. And what with promising my wife I wouldn't go to cup games unless they were 'really special', I didn`t make it to the Plymouth game either!

While in Barcelona we went to the Nou Camp for the visit of 6th placed Racing Santander. If you've not been, it really is a amazing stadium. But I have to say, for a top-flight match with so much talent on display, the atmosphere was disappointing and not a patch on Fratton.

So maybe I was worried unnecessarily by the recently flat Fratton crowds. Maybe it wasn't the beginning of the end for the famed atmosphere, as more and more fair-weather fans came along and diluted the noise. I have been worried about the number of new faces around me who sit in silence, but maybe I needn't have done. Maybe it was the simply the case that all we needed to do was get a goal under our belts and it would be back to normal again.

I certainly hope so. And although I hope we don't find ourselves with our backs against the wall to escape relegation as we have in recent seasons, perhaps the chase for a European spot will give the crowd enough reason to really get behind the team for the run in.

So, with things looking bright again, now doesn't seem like the right time to launch a campaign to bring back the noise and make Fratton a fortress once more.

But your ideas are on the stocks, ready to go if the atmosphere starts to dwindle again. So be vigilant, get behind the boys; encourage those around you to join in. And if you spot anyone eating a prawn sandwich, raise the alarm immediately!

Written by NorthStandDan.

The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.

Your Comments (oldest first)

this is a really good read NorthStandDan, and a good spin on things as what a difference a few weeks can make eh... remember tho if the atmosphere drops too badly again NorthStandDan and his campaigne will be back in full swing again!

We should be looking to go unbeaten at Home from now to the end of the season and the crowd can play a big part. Do that and continue playing well away and Europe should be round the corner. Nice one Dan. NorthStandDave I could be called I suppose.

When every side above us leaves Fratton without a win (Villa excepted - so far) we can't be doing too much bad. But 6 draws against the top 7 is pretty damn good. Just a pity that 1 or 2 weren't 'converted' into wins (Liverpool springs to mind, as does Chelski)...

Of the top ten sided around us, we only have to play AV & Blackburn at home. The rest are those in the relegation battle. Every team has something to play for but we need to be that 12th man. Noise, noise & more noise.

when you look at that record that is pretty amazing really isnt it? how many teams will remain unbeaten at home against 'the top 4' in a season, let alone 'the top 7', if we can do that - and hopefully add a couple of scalps, villa and blackburn - then we wont be far off a european place surely... the fratton atmosphere is back in full swing now fellas isnt it, and has been since the turn of the year, just after i'd say?

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